On paper, I’m the Dad of a future college Soccer player. My son is 6′ 1″ tall (6’5″ with the fro 😂) and weighs 185 lbs. He is arguably the fastest on his team in addition to being one of the quickest. He is also a fairly skilled player with a high soccer IQ and exceptional vision on the pitch. He also loves to play the game. On paper, he is just about the definition of what you would look for if you’re looking for a college soccer player.

So why am I NOT the Dad of a future college soccer player? The answer, although very simple, was difficult to accept at first. The answer is, he simply does not want to be a college soccer player. He has other interests that supersede soccer.

No deep revelations here. The lesson that I’ve learned is that if you raise your child to pursue goals that they’re passionate about, you have to learn to accept the fact that they may have passions and desires that are different than the ones you may have chosen for them in your own mind, and that is perfectly ok. In simpler terms, it’s THEIR journey, we are here just to guide. Let them live it.


Buford Mobley
Buford Mobley

I'm no soccer guru. Just a soccer Dad who's been through the ups and downs, twists and turns of the youth soccer journey. I help soccer parents develop their players by becoming better soccer parents. It is my mission to make the journey easier, more enjoyable, and more meaningful for soccer parents.